Envelop.



l. F. CURRIVAN.

ENVELOP.

APPLICATION FILED APR.13.1915. v

Patented Mar. 13, 1917.

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ENVELOP.

Speccaton of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar.. 13, 1917.

Application filed April -13,1915. Serial No. 21,040.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, Jol-1N F. CURRIVAN, acitizen of the United States, residing in the borough of Brooklyn, inthe county of Kings andState of New York, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Envelops, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved envelop, of that class that isadapted to be used for commercial use, one which will hold its pontentsof whatsoever character' safe even in the transmission through the mail.

An object of thelinvention is to provide an envelop of a single piece ofmaterial, which may be formed in the shape of a tube, then flattened andcut into the desired lengths for the envelops, then so forming thematerial l at the open end to become interlocked in such a manner as topermit of the same being readily opened and closed.

Another object of my invention is to provide an envelop that has noopenings that lead within the inclosure, and at the same time has itsinterlocking means approxi.-

mately at the top. The envelop when closed will transmit its contentssafe, and by reason of its construction and arrangement provides for theready opening of the same.

Another object of the invention is that such envelop may be madeautomatically from a single piece of material, thus per mitting the sameto be made in quantity, such parts being so formed and secured that thesame may be done by ya continuousoperation. The design shown herein issimple in its construction, and in view of the simplicity and securityof the herein shown locking means, it is sure to recommend itself overthe-metallic or other fasteners.

Other objects will appear during the course of this description, andwith them in view, the invention consists in the parts, features andcombinations of' elements for making a secure closure as yhereinafterdescribed and pointed out in the claims.

In ythe drawings is shown the preferred form of locking means for theopen end of the envelop, such drawings forming part of thisspecification, lin which like reference characters designate like partsthroughout the several views.

Figure l shows the open end of an envelop after being cut, and the firstfold made to form the pocket;

Fig. 2 shows the reinforced tongue of the envelop, with the folded overportion of the pocket, scored and pasted in position along its outeredge;

Fig. 3 shows the tongue folded over on top of the pocket,thescoredportion folded overL upon the same ready to receive theinal foldto interlock the parts, and

Fig. 4C shows the end-of the envelop when the last fold has been made,and the same is ready for'the mail.

5 is a sectional view showing a modiication of the closure flap.

Fig. 6 is a View in elevationl of a modification of the flap endreinforcement.

, Envelops, packages or other receptacles may be made in various shapesor forms, but for a clear understanding in the present instance theinvention is disclosed in the form of an ordinary envelop such as isused for the transmission of catalogues, samples, and other sucharticles through'the mail. In

the present instance it is preferred as before noted to` manufacture theenvelops automatically, to do this it is desired rst to form a tube ofthe material, and then after pasting it, flatten the same, then to cutinto desired lengths. The diameter of the envelop is shown at 5-6, whereit receives its first out, at or about the same time it receives theother cuts 7 and 8 to form the tongue 9, the tongue is scored at l0 withthe cut portion 1l, which forms the mouth of the envelop. The part -llwhich before being folded over on theline 10, extended to the top of thetongue as per the dotted line, but now as folded over upon the bodyportion l2 of the envelop, when pasted at its outer sides, forms apocket with lines 13, 14 and 15 scored on one side, forming a foldingmem- .ber of the sides 16 and 17, while the part 1S is pasted to theside of the envelop. The other side of the pocket is also scored in likemanner at 19, 20and 21, forming a folding member on this side of theenvelop of the sides 22'and 23, the part 24 being pasted or otherwisesecured 'to the edgek 25, while the edge of the flap 18 :is-secured tothe edge n V26 of the envelop. Thus it will be seen that ra point wherethe points of the folding members meet, the parts here are scored as at29, which permits of these parts being further interlocked as will benoted farther on.

When it is desired to close the envelop,

the folding members 'i6-17 and 22-23 are.

thrown baci; on the pieces 18 and 2st, and the tongue il is brought overand laid upon the pocket li, then the folders 16-17 and are brought overon top of the tongue 9, as is shown in Fig. 3, then to further interlockthese several members together the parts are turned under on the scoredline 28 on the tongue, and 29 on the pocket portion ll. Thus it will beseen that the closure is made perfect by reason of the several membersbeing all interlocked and held secure therein by reason of the frictionof the surfaces of these several parts. To this pointit has only beenexplained how to close the envelop in asecure manner, while this is avery essential object of all such envelops, yet it is also a veryessential object to be able to openV the same as readily, and to do thisall that is necessary is to pull upwardly at the points the foldingmembers, which will then have the tendency of pulling out of the pocketthe upwardly tucked end of the several members; no further effort isrequired to open the envelop. Of all such envelops on the market none isso simple in construction, nor perfect in their locking means kas theone shown herewith7 which has been tested and found to hold the contentssecure.

As shown, the tongue may have a reinforcement thereon inthe form of astrip 27, which may be secured in any suitable way. This reinforcementis desirable when the contents of the envelop are heavy, and by constantthrowing about or handling in transportation the under fold may underthese circumstances7 where the tongue is not reinforced, cause the sameto vbe pulled out from the pocket, and then cause the contents of theenvelop to get out of the same, but where the reinforcement is used,then there. is not the slightest danger that such will happen, becausethis reinforcement prevents the end from coming out of the pocket,unless the folding members are so exerted upon as to positivelyextricate the same from the pocket.

lt will be understood that envelops have been made of many differentstyles wherein the tongue is brought over the top and then turned up ina pocket, to distinguish it from that class which has a slit in theenveloprand extends the tongue therein, and again in that where thetongue is brought under a staple and bent up. All such forms, togetherwith that of having a small tape along the edge of the pocket, belong.practically to the same class, as it is the tongue, and the tongue onlythat requires all possible reinforcements and interlocking means toprevent the tongue from becoming disengaged from its locking means; Itisalso understood that envelops, bags or any other shaped receptacle maybe pro- `"ided with the same locking means. But, of course, it is moreadapted for use for circulars, catalogues, samples and other commercialuses, where the contents can be readily and securely inclosed by thesender, and adapted to be opened just as easily by theV recipient, yetnot be objected to by the Post Office Department as is very often thecase with receptacles closed by metallic fastenings.

Having now described the preferred form in which it is believed theinvention is adapted, it will be understood that those skilled' in theart to which this invention belongs, canvary the closure and locking.

means without departing from the essentials of the invention described,as all such modifications would necessarily fall within the purview ofthe present inventiom .In Fig. 5 is shown a modification, the details ofwhich will be explained farther on.

This modification shows an extra -iap formed on the envelop which isparticularly useful where it is desired to inclose nely divided materialin the envelop, as it is necessary to have a secure fastening on theenvelop to retainV the material within. So as to give extra strength andretaining qualities, the transverse portion 1l, forming the pocket, isslit or cut, as indicated at 30 and 3l Fig. 1, and is also slittransversely, as indicated by the line 32, to form the flap or tongue33. After the material has been deposited within the envelop, the

flap 33 can be folded over between the ltwo walls of the body portion,as seen most clearly in Fig. 5, permitting the main flap 9 to be foldedover and to be engaged by the parts, as before described, before finallymaking the last and complete fold to lock the envelop for transit.

By providing this additional fiap 33, none of the advantages heretoforedescribed are lost, in fact this flap aids materially in retaining thecontents within the envelop. Again, by use of this additional'flap 33,the top or closure of the envelop will be materially strengthened.

In Fig. 6 is shown a reinforcing strip 27 which is a modification of thestrip 27.

from which the envelop is cut and folded back upon the portion 9, towhich it is aasted or lued or it mav be formed of a 5 separate piecewhich is pasted on the portion 9. VThe sole purpose of thisreinforcement is to add strength to the tip of the Vflap 0r tongue 9.

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vThe strip 27 may be cut from the blank tion being provided with a flap,and a lap on said body portion positioned to told first over then intothe pocket with its end entering with the extending portion.

2. In an article of the class described, the combination of a bodyportion, a portion having a turned under part and formed integral withthe wall on one side of said body to provide a pocket, lateral wings onsaid portion and located at the sides thereof, said wings being securedto said body, a iiap for said body positioned to fold first over andthen into the pocket, and members interposed between the wings and thesaid portion and integral therewith positioned to fold first over theflap and then with the flap into the pocket.

3. In an article of the class described, the combination of a body, aportion having a turned under part and formed integral with the wall onone side of said body to provide a pocket, lateral wings formingintegral parts of said portion and located at the ends thereof, saidwings being secured to said body, a flapon said portion and positionedto enter the pocket, and a flap of said body portion positioned to foldfirst over and then into the pocket. f

4. In an article of the class described, the combination of a body, aiap forming a continuation of the wall on the other side of said body toform a pocket, a flap on said portion and positioned to enter thepocket, and a flap integral with said portion and located between theends thereof, positioned to fold over the iirst named flap and having aportion positioned to enter the pocket therewith.

5. In an article of the class described, the combination of a body, aportion formed integral with the wall on one side of said body andturned back upon the body to form a pocket, a Hap for said bodypositioned to fold first over and then into the pocket, and Hap engagingmembers formed on said portion and positioned to fold upon the iiap whenthe flap is folded over the pocket.

6. The combination of a body, a iap forming a continuation of the wallon one side of the body, and a portion forming a continuation of thewall on the other side of said body turned down and secured to said bodyat the sides of the body and having an intermediate portion free andforming with said body a pocket, a part of said intermediate portionbeing formed and positioned to receive said flap and fold into the saidpocket therewith.

7. The combination of a body, a flap forming a continuati on of the wallon one side of the body, and a portion forming a continuation of thewall on the other side of said body secured at the sides of the body andhaving an intermediate portion free and forming with said body a pocket,a part of said intermedia-te portion being formed and positioned toreceive said flap and fold into the said pocket therewith, the said twoiirst named portions having a total area substantiallyequal to the areaof the two sides of the body coincident therewith.

8. The combination of a body, a flap forming a continuation of the wallon one side of the body, and a port-ion forming a continuation of thewall on the other side of the body secured at the sides of the body andhaving an intermediate portion free and forming with said body a pocket,a part of said intermediate portion being formed and positioned toreceive said flap and fold into the said pocket therewith, the said flapand rst named portion being formed of an eXtension of the body portionand said secured portion provided with a second iap adapted to beJfolded as described.

9. The combination of a body, a flap forming a continuation of the wallon one side of the body, and a portion Jforming a continuation of thewall on the other side of the body secured at the sides of the body andhaving an intermediate portion free and forming with said body a pocket,a part of said intermediate portion being formed and positioned to foldover said nap and fold into the said pocket therewith.

10. The combination of a body, a flap forming a. continuation of thewall on one side of the body, and a portion Jforming a continuation ofthe wall on the other side of said body turned down and secured to saidbody at the sides of the body and having an intermediate portion freeand forming with said body a pocket, a part of said intermediate portionbeing formed and positioned to receive said iap, and said flappositioned to fold over the first named portion provided with asupplemental flap and then into the pocket.

11. The combination of a body, a Hap forming a continuation of the wallon one side of the body, and a portion forming a continuation of thewall on the other side of said body turned down and secured to said bodyat the sides of the body and having an intermediate portionfree andforming with said body a pocket, a part of said intermediate portioni'orming a supplemental flap while the balance is formed and positionedto receive the rst mentioned flap, and said flap positioned to fold overthe irst named portion and the supplemental Hap and then into thepocket.

12. The combination of a body, a flap forming a continuation of the wallon onel side of the body, and a portion forming a continuation of thewall on the other side of the body secured at the sides of the body andhaving an intermediate portion free and forming with said body a pocket,a part of said intermediate portion being formed and positionedto foldover said flap and fold In testimony whereof, I have signed my into thesaid pocket therewith, and a part of name in the presence of subscribingwitsaid intermediate portion near the end of the nesses.

body wall being severed from the rst JOHNF. CURRIVAN. [11.5.] 5 namedportion and formed and positioned to Witnesses:

be turned in between the two walls of said J. B. MCGIRR,

body. l `THOMAS E. WILLARD.

Copies of this.patent-11149.51v beobtaned forfnrek centsieach, bysiddiressiligy the Commissioner of P aten'tys,

Washington 1). c.

